Tobias Whale
Encyclopedia
Tobias Whale is a comic book
villain, a fictional character
created by Tony Isabella
and Trevor Von Eeden
as Black Lightning
's nemesis. He first appeared in Black Lightning #1 (April 1977).
albino, who worked his way up from the rackets to head the Metropolis branch of the 100
. A school teacher named Jefferson Pierce spoke out against the 100's drug trafficking, and so they made an example of one of his students. Seeking to avenge the murdered student, Pierce becomes Black Lightning
.
Pierce is so successful that Tobias is sent to jail. When he breaks out of prison some months later he teams up with Syonide II in order to distribute a new highly addictive drug. The drug's formula was supposedly in the possession of a woman named Violet Harper. Tobias sends Syonide to retrieve the formula, unable to gain any information or find any trace of the formula, Syonide kills Harper.
Violet Harper later comes back to life when an Aurakle possesses her lifeless body, this new being called herself Halo
. Once he learned of Harper's resurrection, Tobias assumed that she must have memorized the formula. But since Harper has no memories from before her death, a frustrated Syonide killed her parents.
Often called "the Great White Whale" behind his back, Tobias Whale weighs close to 400 lbs. However, most of his considerable bulk is muscle.
It is unknown whether Tobias ever was associated with the 100's successor group, the 1000.
and has moved to Gotham City where he is attempting to become the Capo di tutti capi
boss of bosses, following the death of the Black Mask
. After taking over both the Galante and Odessa crime families, he ends up in a gang war with Intergang
. They buy him out and make him the CEO of Kord Enterprises
, which has become a front for Intergang's
criminal activities.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
villain, a fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
created by Tony Isabella
Tony Isabella
Tony Isabella is an American comic book writer, editor, artist and critic, known as the creator and writer of Marvel Comics' Black Goliath, DC Comics' first major African American superhero, Black Lightning, and as a columnist and critic for the Comics Buyer's Guide.-Marvel Comics:Before he joined...
and Trevor Von Eeden
Trevor Von Eeden
Trevor Von Eeden is a comic book writer/artist who, known for his work on such DC Comics books as Black Lightning, Batman, and Green Arrow, as well as Marvel Comics books such as Power Man and Iron Fist, and the biographical series The Original Johnson.-Early life:According to Von Eeden, he...
as Black Lightning
Black Lightning
Black Lightning was one of the first major African American superheroes to appear in DC Comics. He debuted in Black Lightning #1 , and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.- Publication history :...
's nemesis. He first appeared in Black Lightning #1 (April 1977).
Fictional character biography
Tobias Whale is an African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
albino, who worked his way up from the rackets to head the Metropolis branch of the 100
100 (DC Comics)
The 100, the 10 and the 1000 are fictional organized crime groups appearing in DC Comics. The 10 debuted in Superman #665 , and were created by Kurt Busiek and Rick Leonardi. The 100 debuted in Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #105 , and were created by Bob Kanigher...
. A school teacher named Jefferson Pierce spoke out against the 100's drug trafficking, and so they made an example of one of his students. Seeking to avenge the murdered student, Pierce becomes Black Lightning
Black Lightning
Black Lightning was one of the first major African American superheroes to appear in DC Comics. He debuted in Black Lightning #1 , and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.- Publication history :...
.
Pierce is so successful that Tobias is sent to jail. When he breaks out of prison some months later he teams up with Syonide II in order to distribute a new highly addictive drug. The drug's formula was supposedly in the possession of a woman named Violet Harper. Tobias sends Syonide to retrieve the formula, unable to gain any information or find any trace of the formula, Syonide kills Harper.
Violet Harper later comes back to life when an Aurakle possesses her lifeless body, this new being called herself Halo
Halo (comics)
Halo is a fictional superheroine that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in a special insert in The Brave and the Bold #200 , and was created by Mike W...
. Once he learned of Harper's resurrection, Tobias assumed that she must have memorized the formula. But since Harper has no memories from before her death, a frustrated Syonide killed her parents.
Often called "the Great White Whale" behind his back, Tobias Whale weighs close to 400 lbs. However, most of his considerable bulk is muscle.
It is unknown whether Tobias ever was associated with the 100's successor group, the 1000.
Gotham Underground
Whale recently returned in the limited series Gotham UndergroundGotham Underground
Gotham Underground is a nine-issue limited series from DC Comics, written by Frank Tieri, with art by Jim Califiore.The series looked at the repercussions of Countdown to Final Crisis and focuses on the Batman Family banding together to prevent a gang war to find out who will occupy the territory...
and has moved to Gotham City where he is attempting to become the Capo di tutti capi
Capo di tutti capi
Capo di tutti capi or capo dei capi is Italian for "boss of all bosses" or "boss of bosses". It is a phrase used mainly by the media, public and the law enforcement community to indicate a supremely powerful crime boss in the Sicilian or American Mafia who holds great influence over the whole...
boss of bosses, following the death of the Black Mask
Black Mask (comics)
Black Mask is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. An enemy of Batman, he first appeared in Batman #386 . Black Mask was created by Doug Moench and Tom Mandrake.-Dark beginning:...
. After taking over both the Galante and Odessa crime families, he ends up in a gang war with Intergang
Intergang
Intergang is a fictional organized crime group in Superman and other DC comics. Armed with technology supplied by the villainous New Gods of the planet Apokolips, it is a potent foe who can seriously challenge the most powerful superheroes...
. They buy him out and make him the CEO of Kord Enterprises
Kord Industries
Kord Enterprises is a fictional company that exists in the DC Universe and is run by Ted Kord, the superhero Blue Beetle. Founded by his father, Ted Kord eventually takes over Kord Industries...
, which has become a front for Intergang's
Intergang
Intergang is a fictional organized crime group in Superman and other DC comics. Armed with technology supplied by the villainous New Gods of the planet Apokolips, it is a potent foe who can seriously challenge the most powerful superheroes...
criminal activities.
Television
- In the Justice League UnlimitedJustice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
episode "Double Date," a villain who betrayed and killed the parents of the HuntressHuntress (Helena Bertinelli)Huntress is a fictional character in the DC Universe. Based upon the Earth-Two character Helena Wayne, she is one of several DC characters to bear the Huntress name...
called Steven Mandragora (voiced by Glenn ShadixGlenn ShadixWilliam Glenn Shadix Scott , born William Glenn Shadix, was an American actor, known for his role as Otho Fenlock in Tim Burton's horror/comedy film Beetlejuice and the voice of the Mayor of Halloween Town in The Nightmare Before Christmas.-Early life and education:Shadix was born in Bessemer,...
) is a synthesis of Tobias Whale and Stefano Mandragora, a mobster who plays a role in the Huntress' comic book origin. In the episode, Huntress was tracking him down in order to avenge her parents' death. With the help of The QuestionQuestion (comics)The Question is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by DC Comics. The original was created by writer-artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Blue Beetle #1...
, they managed to locate Mandragora, who was under federal protection in return for testimony against other criminals. Mandragora escaped federal custody and went to the docks to apparently flee the country. He overpowered Green ArrowGreen ArrowGreen Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
, Black CanaryBlack CanaryBlack Canary is the name of two fictional characters, DC Comics superheroines created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino. The first Black Canary debuted appeared in Flash Comics #86 . The first Black Canary was the alter-ego of Dinah Drake, who took part in Golden Age adventures...
, and The Question as he was making his escape, but surrendered when Huntress threatened him with her crossbowCrossbowA crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...
. She nearly executed him, but relented when she saw that the real reason the criminal was there was to welcome his little son to the country, and who was watching much as she watched when Mandragora originally murdered her parents. Instead, she knocked Mandragora senseless, and he was taken back into U.S. custody. In this episode he demonstrates great, possibly superhuman, strength and enough physical durability to withstand Black Canary's sonic Canary Cry at close range (she had stated in "The Cat and The Canary" that her cry was lethal to normal humans under those circumstances) and to survive having a large pallette of iron girders dropped on him from a height.
- His son, Edgar, previously appeared as an adult in "Mind Games", an episode of Batman BeyondBatman BeyondBatman Beyond is an American animated television series created by Warner Bros. Animation in collaboration with DC Comics as a continuation of the Batman legacy...
as a member of the Brain Trust. He displayed powerful psychic abilities but was defeated by Batman in the end. Edgar also appeared in "Ro's Gift", an episode of The Zeta ProjectThe Zeta ProjectThe Zeta Project is a science fiction American animated series produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It first aired on Kids' WB in January 2001. It is a spin-off series based on the character Zeta from the Batman Beyond episode of the same name. The show was created by Robert Goodman and Warner Bros...
, with a different design.